Williamstown CYMS stop the Therry Penola Lions juggernaught, promoted to Premier C and into a grand final after a 36-point win in their VAFA Division 1 semi-final

WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS caused one of the Victorian Amateur Football Association upsets of the year, defeating Therry Penola in their Division 1 semi-final to book a grand final spot in a fortnight.

WILLIAMSTOWN      CYMS caused one of the Victorian Amateur Football Association upsets of the year on Saturday, defeating Therry Penola in their Division 1 semi-final to book a spot in the decider in a fortnight.

The CYs went into the clash as underdogs, up against an undefeated Lions outfit at Northcote’s Bill Lawry Oval.

Forward pressure saw the CYs create scoring opportunities through uncharacteristic turnovers from the Lions, slotting five opening-term goals to hold a 14-point lead at quarter-time.

Matt John proved a handful for the minor premier in his return to VFL club Williamstown, slotting four goals from the midfield, three of them running into open goals.

Up forward, Jack Gray continued his good form for the CYs, slotting four himself.

The CYs’ 22-point lead at the main break forced the Lions to change tactics.

Half-back Brenton Egglestone was thrown forward to provide another marking option and he goalled to give the Lions a spark.

Egglestone had another shot on the three-quarter-time siren to bring the margin back to 23 points, but pushed it wide, giving the CYs a handy buffer into the final term.

But the Lions roared back, kicking the next three goals to get back within 10 points.

The competition’s leading goalkicker, Jarrod Bannister, slotted two of those, the second a blinder from the boundary to bring the margin within two kicks.

But when the CYs burnt the Lions on transition to score again, the floodgates opened, helping the CYs gain promotion to Premier C and prevail 16.10 (106) to 10.10 (70).

Williamstown coach Mathew Montebello said his side had 22 contributors in a consummate team performance.

“I was really happy with the way our forward line pressure worked,” Montebello said.

“We had 10 tackles inside 50, which is a season-high. It was really good to execute that part of the game plan.

“We cut down their run. We knew they’re a really good running side.”

Montebello said the inclusion of John, who hadn’t played in the side’s two losses to Therry during the regular season, was vital.

“He gave us a bit of a spark,” he said.

“He’s had a really good year but been hit heavily by injury. We knew a fully fit Johnsy would be critical to us. He’s a really hard match-up for us.”

The CYs will take confidence from the fact they were able to hold off multiple comebacks from the Lions.

“They came back at us in the last,” Montebello said.

“They had little surges but we were able to hold them off. What pleased me was we didn’t just steady, we were able to kick away.”

It’s the first time the CYs have made Premier C.

“We’ve achieved something the club hasn’t achieved before,” Montebello said.

“But there’s a bit more focus on the team now. It would be a hollow feeling if we didn’t win the flag.”